The Early Years
The Warehouse Theatre
was founded by Sam Kelly, Richard Ireson, and Adrian Shergold at the
height of the lunchtime theatre boom with the aim of presenting a varied
season of plays with an emphasis on new work to the highest possible
standards. The first production - Hell's Angels on Typewriters
by Angela Wye - opened in May 1977, and the then 50 seat auditorium
became an instant favourite with local audiences for lunchtime performances
whilst sharing the building with a Caribbean night club.
In 1978 the Arts Council recognised the work of the theatre by awarding
a major grant and in 1979 the nightclub closed, evening performances
were introduced and the seating capacity was increased to 100. Highly
respected touring companies began to visit the theatre between in-house
productions and extremely popular cabaret evenings were introduced,
with performers including Lenny Henry, French and Saunders, Rik Mayall,
Ben Elton, and Julian Clary. Gradually more plays were premiered, with
many being specially commissioned by successful writers, such as Sue
Townsend, who wrote Groping for Words and Womberang for
the theatre.
After the withdrawal of an Arts Council grant in 1984, potential closure
was averted when Croydon Council and the GLC agreed to replace the grant.
Following a brief closure for major refurbishment, including the building
of the bar, the theatre re-opened in 1985 under the directorship of
Ted Craig with the premiere of David Allen's Cheapside starring
James Bolam. Now concentrating exclusively on new playwriting,
initiatives such as the South London Playwriting Festival were launched,
giving an invaluable platform to works by both new and established writers.
Kevin Hood's compelling new play Beached won the first festival
in 1986 and he later became Resident Playwright, writing both The
Astronomer's Garden and Sugar Hill Blues for the theatre.
Arts Council funding (via London Arts) was also restored.Building On SuccessThe South
London Playwriting Festival quickly became the highly acclaimed International
Playwriting Festival, reflecting the number of entries from all
over the globe. Finalists have included playwrights from America, Trinidad,
Australia and Bulgaria, with the 1994 winner, Dino Mahoney, being half
Irish, half Greek, living in Hong Kong. Dino's selected play Yo Yo
had its premiere here in April 1995. In 1996 the Warehouse Theatre inaugurated
a partnership with the leading Italian playwriting festival, the Premio
Candoni and in 1999 a partnership was also formed with Theatro Ena in
Cyprus providing selected writers with a window for further productions
in Europe.The new writers discovered by the festival have since gone from
strength to strength and further productions, radio and screen contracts,
and success with other work has followed.
We were also proud to partner the Sydney Theatre Company with two UK
premieres by Michael Gow,
ON TOP OF THE WORLD and SWEET PHOEBE,
the latter starring the brilliant CATE BLANCHETT in her UK theatre debut.
We were also very proud that the great LINDSAY ANDERSON agreed to do
a production for the theatre
of the world premiere of THE FISHING TRIP by Frank Grimes with an excellent
cast and music by ALAN PRICE.The BuildingThe Warehouse
Theatre is a converted Victorian warehouse, built in 1882 for a sand,
cement, and lime merchant. In spite of refurbishments, it still has
several original features. There are picture tiles from the 1880's,
mostly on the cellar under the main staircase, and a "crab"
winch and wall crane of unusual design in full working order on the
side of the building. Early drawings show that the bar, opened in 1985,
is actually sited in the old stable block, with the eating area above
in the appropriately named "Hayloft" bar.
But the Victorian charm of the building does have its less engaging
side. The removal of a false ceiling in 1981 uncovered the planked roof
and vast beams and tresses of the original holes in the original roof
to let in the original rain over audience and cast alike.
Space is another problem. The office looks like a cupboard crossed with
a corridor and is actually another entrance to the auditorium. In fact,
until 1985 it was the entrance and many bemused latecomers
are still escorted up the backstairs and past the kitchen to avoid walking
through the scenery. With so little room to manoeuvre, one (unnamed)
actress was once forced to crawl along a wooden beam in the roof in
order to reach her entrance after she had left by the wrong door the
scene before!
But the problems have helped to encourage the ingenuity and imagination
in staging and design for which the Warehouse Theatre is rightly acclaimed
- and cheerfulness in adversity has seen staff and audiences alike through
many a minor crisis.

The FutureFor some
time a new theatre had been planned which will double our capacity and
upgrade our facilities, and this is now a reality. On 2 June 06 the
Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government granted planning
permission for the development of the 'Gateway' site next to East Croydon
station on which the theatre stands. Site owners, and our landlords,
Stanhope/Schroders,are building a large urban park, twice
the size of Leicester Square, offices, housing (50% affordable), restaurants,
a medical centre and a leisure centre, with our new, 200 seat, state-of-the-art
theatre at the heart of the development.
But, there have been many hold ups and this has not been helped by the
council's withdrawal of essential funding which caused Warehouse Theatre's
managing company into administration in May 2012. The theatre, however,
remained open until 27 November when the lease ran out. The landlords
commissioned a survey of the building and serious faults were discovered
and there was no choice but for the building to be demolished..
A new company has been established - Warehouse
Phoenix Limited - with the aim of preserving and carrying
on the spirit of innovation and determination forged upstairs in that
Victorian industrial warehouse.top
of pageWAREHOUSE THEATRE IN-HOUSE PRODUCTIONS
& CO-PRODUCTIONS 1977- 2013

1979THEY MADE THEIR
EXCUSES AND LEFT by Ivor DunkertonFLORENCE OF THE
NORTH by Magda NabbONE OF THOSE DAYS
devised by Adrian ShergoldMARKING TIME by Andy ArmitageJETTY by Guy HibbertOLD SCHOOL by Giles Cole- PremiereHOUDINI by
Andy Armitage and Adrian Shergold - Premiere

1986WORKING THE
HALLS by Peter Honri
- PremiereTHE ART OF SELF-DEFENCE
by Trish Johnson Target Productions in association with Warehouse TheatreWUTHERING HEIGHTS
by Emily Bronte, adapted by Vince Foxall - Commission & PremiereI'VE BEEN RUNNING
by Clare McIntyre and CINDY
AND SHELLEY GO TO THE DESERT by Paula Cizmar - Theatre La Beet in association with Warehouse
Theatre Co (also played at Old Red Lion)SCREAMERS by
Anthony Davidson "Consistently absorbing and entertaining"
"Intense, funny, nostalgic,sad" Financial Times 3.7.86- PremiereONE WAS NUDE AND
WORE TAILS by Dario
Fo - Fo Rame Theatre Project in association with Warehouse TheatreGLORIOUS THINGS
by David Allen Commission
& Premiere
"A rare and rewarding combination of fun, accessibility and politics"
City Limits 30.10.86BLACK EY'D SUSAN
by Douglas Jerrold, adapted by the Warehouse Theatre Co (transfer to Oxford Playhouse)
"A very engaging show - light but not throwaway, funny but never
absurd" What's On

1987CANNIBAL by
Richard Zajdlic & Richard Crow - Ratskins Theatre Co in association
with Warehouse Theatre Co - PremiereBEACHED by Kevin Hood - 1986 IPF selection
-
Premiere
"In Kevin Hood, the author of Beached, the Warehouse has discovered
a new playwright who can craft a script, write and give his play dramatic
interest, shape and colour" London Daily News
(also played Old Red Lion Theatre)STAR TURNS by Steve Gooch - Commission &
PremiereIN THE IMAGE OF
THE BEAST by Jonathan
Holloway (Winner
of Fringe First - Edinburgh Festival 1987) Red Shift Theatre Co in association with Warehouse
Theatre CoUPSIDE DOWN AT THE
BOTTOM OF THE WORLD by David Allen - British premiereTHE SERVANT OF TWO
MASTERS by Carlo
Goldini, translated and adapted by Ted Craig, Lyrics by David Dearlove,
music by Peter Pontzen Commission & Premiere

1990SWEET AS A NUT
by David Fox - Best Playwright,
Charrington Fringe Awards 1989/90 Art Depot Theatre Co in assoc with
Warehouse Theatre PremiereSUGAR HILL BLUES
by Kevin Hood -
transfer to Hampstead
Theatre - Commission
& premiereCONVERSATIONS WITH
GEORGE SANDBURGH AFTER A SOLO FLIGHT ACROSS THE ATLANTIC by Ellen Fox
(Winner of the 1989 South London Playwriting Festival) - PremiereCONVICTIONS by
Jeffrey Beatley - The Sharland Org in association with Warehouse Theatre
Co - British premiereRIPPING THEM OFF
by Trevor Baxter - Warehouse Theatre Co in association with Bill Kenwright
- PremiereIN THE DOGHOUSE by David Allen - Commission &
Premieretop
of page1991THREE MEN IN
A BOAT by Jerome
K Jerome, adapted by Rob Ballard (Winner of Best Comedy Charrington Fringe Awards
1991/2 - Performance
Theatre CoFAIRY TALES OF NEW
YORK By J P
Donleavy (30th ANNIVERSARY PRODUCTION)THE FISHING TRIP
by Frank Grimes - Warehouse Theatre Co in association with Alexander
H Racolin & Annette Moscowitz
Directed by Lindsay Anderson "Provocative and quizzical, subtle
and bracing" The Guardian - PremiereLIPSTICK TANGO
by Katie Campbell - Bustere Theatre Co in assoc with Warehouse Theatre
CoPLAYING SINATRA by Bernard Kops - Commission and
Premiere - transfer
to Greenwich Theatre
" A corker of a play and a triumph for Kops, his best play in more
than a decade...rich, dark complexity...remarkable" Whats On
"This beautifully written tragi-comedy" Independent on
SundayTHE MYSTERIE
OF MARIA MARTEN
by Chris Bond - commission and premiere

1992THE ROARING
GIRLS HAMLET by
William Shakespeare, in a new setting by Claire Luckham The Sphinx (formerly
Women's Theatre Group) in association with Warehouse Theatre CoFIGHTING FOR THE
DUNGHILL by Guy
Jenkin -1991 IPF selection
"Splendidly watchable" The Times "James
Bolam's excellent performance...is a poignant though still comic, picture
of a man at war with the world.....ably abetted by a splendid cast""Charming,
informative play" Time Out - PremiereTURNER'S CROSSING
by Sheila Dewey (Thames TV Theatre Writers Award) Commission & PremiereON TOP OF THE WORLD
by Michael Gow Warehouse Theatre Co in association with
The Sydney Theatre Co - British PremiereTHE BEST MAN
by David Richard Fox Warehouse Theatre Co in association with Art
Depot - PremiereDON QUIXOTE adapted by Vince Foxall - Commission
& Premiere

2002THE MEN'S ROOM
by Joshua James - Icon Productions in association with Warehouse Theatre
- British premiereSKIN DEEP by
Richard Vincent - Commission & PremiereBIG BOYS by
Charles Fourie. A Stages International production in association with
Warehouse Theatre Company - British premiereI AM OSCAR WILDE
by Stuart Denman - Skillduggery - PremiereTHE MEETING by Jeff Stetson - Nubian Nights and
Warehouse Theatre CompanyTHREE SERVANTS by
Ryan Craig - Jet Theatre - Commission & PremiereDICK BARTON Episode
IV The Flight of the Phoenix by Duncan Wisbey and Stefan Bednarcxyk with Ted Craig
Commission & Premiere "an enegetic and talented
cast tells this tale of derring-do with great aplomb. As well as delivering
viruoso comic performances, they also sing with vigour, and even double
up as the band for the musical numbers, which borrow familiar classical
tunes and set them to witty new lyrics ...dashed good fun! The Times

2003DICK BARTONEpisode IV The Flight of the Phoenix
extended to 23 February
24 Feb - 16 April Theatre closed for necessary works and refurbishment
LADY DAY AT
EMERSON'S BAR & GRILL
KNOCK DOWN GINGER by
Mark Norfolk Commission & World PremiereMRS RUSKIN by Kim Morrissey in assoc with Theatre
Metropolis - World premiereMISS JULIE by August Strinberg set in British
Raj in assoc with Naach & Tara ArtsTHE TUNNEL OF OBSESSION
adapted by David
Graham-Young from the novel by Ernesto Sabato - World Premiere
DICK BARTON Episode V The Excess of Evil by Duncan Wisbey and Stefan Bednarcyk with Ted Craig
Commission & World Premiere "With
endless gags delivered by a cast of six actors who also play a couple
of dozen characters between them
plus an amazing range of musical instruments, the evening jollies along
at an hilarious pace that would get even James Bond shaken and stirred"
What's On in London "The show's creators...have come up with several Christmas
crackers (and) an ingenious plot with more
twists and turns than an exhibitionist boa-constrictor" Evening
Standard "The gags
come thick and fast" Sunday Telegraph

2004DICK BARTON
Episode V The Excess of Evil sell out season extended to 29 FebruaryRED SUN by David Rudkin London Premiere "in
a theatre dominated by domesticity, Rudkin's work stands out as the
product of an unnerving myth-haunted imagination" Michael Billington
The GuardianQUEER COUNSEL
by Nick Bamford in assoc with FOD Productions World PremiereMR AND MRS SCHULTZ
by Alex Jones in assoc with Watermill West Berkshire Playhouse World
PremiereDIRTY FAN MALE Jonny
Trunk/Duncan Wisbey 'Positively tumescent with English X-rated vulgarity...very
funny!' Bruce Dessan Evening Standard 'A work of pure genius' Danny Baker 'Unstintingly
hilarious...a rare and finely wrought treat' Lucy Powell Time Out
ROMEO AND JULIET
by William Shakespeare Daylight Players A heart-pounding Shakespeare...
Every player is at the peak of their abilities.Kvallsposten
/ Kultur (Sweden) OPEN HOUSE
by Helena Thompson World PremiereFEMME FATALE written by Phil Willmott directed
by Ted Craig music by Stefan Bednarczyk WTC Production World Premiere 'a jolly successor to this theatre's long line of Dick
Barton spoofs'The Guardian'flirtatiously
funny' What's On in London
"there's plenty to enjoy in Ted Craig's buoyant production..."The Times

2005FEMME FATALE
extended until 20 FebruaryTHE DEVIL YOU KNOW
by Frank Barrie London Shakepreare Group & Warehouse Theatre London
premiere"A marvellous
play, funny, poignant, humane and witty"Giles Brandreth"A
sign of a good play when you talk about it for days after" The
GuideTHE KINDNESS
OF STRANGERS by
Sara Mason starring Susannah York World Premiere "Susannah York, under Ted Craig'sdirection, is rivetting as Elaine. She implies both faded-European
gentility and a sexual friskiness that she memorably turns upon her
male captor" Michael Billington The GuardianBLOWING WHISTLES
by Matthew Todd World Premiere "Blowing
Whistles is wholly engaging and remarkably astute. Many 'gay' plays
follow a highly banal format, whereas this is razor sharp, witty and
shockingly true-to-life. With first-rate direction from Phil Willmott
and a highly proficient cast, this is incisive and intelligent and Todd's
play is indeed worthy of praise. By all accounts, it's unparalleled."
Mark Hill, South London PressTHICK by
Rick Bland London PremiereTHE HOT ZONE by Nirjay Mahindru World Premiere TIME
OUT Critics' ChoiceMAKING DICKIE HAPPY
by Jeremy Kingston "Kingston's
wittily ingenious play'" The Guardian 'a witty collision
of characters in a sugar-spun
comedy boasting a succession of deliciously camp one-liners' Daily
TelegraphWOODY ALLEN'S
MURDER MYSTERIES adaplted from Woody Allen's short stories by Janey Clarke
World Premiere
"An hilarious show...brilliant idea...an ideal evening for thinking
jokers and joking thinkers" Sunday Times

2006WOODY ALLEN'S
MURDER MYSTERIES played until Sun 19 FebBEING OLIVIA by George Parsons World Premiere
"Superb" Times TIME OUT Critics' ChoiceMY LIFE by Karla Williams World PremiereTHE HOUSE OF NO
RETURN Oddbodies
Theatre Co London premiere "A genuinely inverntive blast of fresh
air...unique" Ev StandardIMOGEN by Toby Clarke "A
little marvel of a play" Daily Telegraph TIME
OUT Critics' Choice TWO MUSICALS:TRAINRIDE and GIRLS' NIGHT OUT Impetuous Kinship Premiere "takes over where
'Sex and the City' left off -
with songs!" Time OutNO OBVIOUS
TRAUMA Unpacked
'Images you will want to pack away for later recall' TimeOut 'Inventive,
Beautiful & Chilling' The ScotsmanGOLDEN OPPORTUNITIES
by Eugene Scribe translated by Anthony Curtis British Premiere
'Stylish'The Guardian
'impressive, and consistently fascinating' Financial TimesLOVE AND HUMAN REMAINS
by Brad Fraser - first major revival for 10 years "Mark
Ravenhill meets Will and Grace meets Sam Shepard" MailYOUNG DICK BARTON
book by Duncan Wisbey lyrics by Stefan Bednarczyk Directed
by Ted Craig WTC Production World Premiere"FAST, FURIOUS & FUN - OH SUCH FUN!"
Advertiser "Duncan Wisbey's exuberant script
What'sOnStage "Won over by the versatile
cast who double up in an avalanche of parts and play all the musical
instruments" Sunday Telegraph "A constant
delight" The Times

2007YOUNG DICK BARTON
extended to Sunday 25 February PRAMFACE by
Lizzie Hopley London Premiere "Hilarious...mesmerising"
Daily TelegraphCRUNCH by
Daniel Goldman "inventive, imaginative and delivered with
a bucketload of chutzpah" The ScotsmanBUT BEAUTIFUL by SignDance Ensemble "simply
stunning" Eastbourne GazetteVACANT POSSESSION
by Ray Brown"
Sympathetic, clever writing, beautifully performed" ***** British
Theatre GuideSOME
KINDA' ARIZONA by John Bashford World PremiereCRY MY ZIMBABWE Theatre Under FireTHE MYSTERY OF EDWIN
DROOD by Rupert
Holmes "accomplished, quirky entertainment, bursting with energy
and panache" Times
"Ted Craig's bouyant, enjoyable production...the audience is given
a good time and I was glad to be among people enjoying themselves"Paul Taylor Independent "The whole cast performs
with zest" Michael Billington The Guardian

2009YOUNG DICK BARTON - THE
DEVIL WEARS TWEED by Duncan Wisbey, music &
lyrics by Stefan Bednarczyk ontil Sunday 22 FebruaryTHE TWILIGHT RAINBOW
Theatre Under Fire World Premiere "Joyous...a must see! TimesTHE BARBER OF
SAVILE ROW Unespected
Opera "splendidly conceived and wittily directed by Lynn Binstock"
Eastern Daily PressTHE IRON EYELASHES
Imaginery Forces "a little
marvel of a play... quite beautifully performed" Daily
TelegraphDANCES FOR A LOST
TRAVELLER by SignDance Ensemble "Unforgettable...bravery
and innovative spirit...'WhatsonStage.com 03.07.09HA HA HITLER!
by Ben Langley, produced by Jamie Wilson Productions 'Ben
Langley is the ideal comic performer...One of the best I've ever seen...
A terrific performer" Independent --
World Premiere
THE MEETING by Jeff Stetson - Nubian Nights presents
a Crying in the Wilderness production in association with Warehouse
Theatre Company
"Moving and effective theatre" British Theatre Guide
THE JOY OF POLITICS
presented by The Black Sheep - World Premiere"Belly
laughs, sharp setire and a contagious sense of fun" The
Times
DICK BARTON - QUANTUM OF PORRIDGE by
Duncan Wisbey, music & lyrics by Stefan Bednarczyk
- World Premiere
"pun-filled festve treat...a great evening out!" Time Out
05.01.10 "the acting is excellent; Stefan Bednarczyk's lyrics
are as clever
as his music is bright" The Times 05.01.10

2010DICK
BARTON - QUANTUM OF PORRIDGE by
Duncan Wisbey, music & lyrics by Stefan Bednarczyk until
21FebruaryRELAX
by
Robert Farrar
- World PremiereORPHEUS
DOWN UNDER
Unexpected OperaNAKED
SOLDIERS by
Mark Norfolk - World PremiereOvid's METAMORPHOSESPants on Fire 'Glorious. A breakthrough show -
a giddy delight!' Lyn Gardner Guardian
HEROIN(E) FOR BREAKFAST by Philip Stokes "quite
astonishingly accomplished, so beautifully written, staged and acted
that it takes one's breath away" Sunday Telegraph
CARDENIO by Shakespeare&
Fletcherin a new edit by Luis del Aguila
DICK BARTON - A FISTFUL OF BARTON by Kit Benjamin & Philip Ives, musical director
Stefan Bednarczyk World Premiere
2011DICK
BARTON - A FISTFUL OF BARTONby Duncan Wisbey, music & lyrics by Stefan
Bednarczyk ontil Sunday 20 February
HA HA HOLMES
by Ben Langley, produced by Jamie Wilson Productions 'Ben
Langley is the ideal comic performer...One of the best I've ever seen...
A terrific performer" Independent --
World Premiere
DAVID BENSON REP SEASON James Seabright Productions
BEHIND YOU by Dave Marsden
WHOSE OSCAR IS IT ANYWAY? Rae Baker, Stefan Bednarczyk
& Duncan Wisbey
WHERE THE FLOWERS GROW by Mark Norfolk World PremiereSCREWED AGAIN Four Screws
Loose "A rattlebag of comic treats...FANTASTIC!" Broadway
Baby THE GIRLS byRay Harrison - The Graham Grassmarket
ProjecTWO HALVES OF GUINNESS James Seabright
Productions A first-rate performance: this is a great piece of
writing,
directing and acting. The Latest BrightonTHE FUMIDOR by Peter Bramley/ Pants
On Fire "this smorgasbord
of theatrical conventions Pants on Fire is flaunting
with immaculate confidence"New
York pressDON QUIXOTE by Vince Foxall music by Mia
Soteriou - Warehouse Theatre Company "Sexy vibrancy, panache and
great laughs
- a titillating selection of tapas!" TimeOut "Beguiling"
The Times

WAREHOUSE PHOENIX
LIMITEDestablished to carry on the proud new writing
tradition of the Warehouse Theatre.

2013Warehouse
Phoenix produces
2013 INTERNATIONAL PLAYWRITING FESTIVAL
at Fairfield Halls - JuneTHE ROAD TO NOWHERE by Sean Cook
World Premiere of the selected play from the 2013 International
Playwriting Festivalpresented at the Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon
-- OctoberWarehouse Theatre sadly demolished in
November